Facebook sex fiend preys on girls

AN IPSWICH man procured young girls for sex via popular social networking site Facebook.

Robert Joseph Seaman, 23, got to know the four girls, aged 13 to 15, via messages and exchanges online and via mobile phones.

Ipswich District Court was told Seaman preyed on the young girls over a four and a half month period.

The court was told Seaman had an "abnormal sexual interest in young teenagers" and enjoyed the feeling of power it gave him.

Seaman sent one of the girls a video of himself naked, and asked for the girls to send him indecent photos of themselves.

One of the girls sent Seaman four naked photos of herself, which he kept.

Seaman lured one girl, who was 14-years-old, to a motel room where he indecently dealt with her and tried to have sex with her.

When police executed a search warrant at Seaman's Bundamba home, they found two laptops, an external hard drive, an Apple iPhone, USB stick and memory card, all associated with the offending.

Seaman pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and one count each of attempted carnal knowledge with a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material and using electronic communication with intent to procure a person under 16 years of age to engage in a sexual act.

The offending happened between November 1, 2010 and March 16, 2011.

Seaman was sentenced to two years and three months in prison to be wholly suspended after nine months.

He will be eligible for parole on October 30, taking into account his plea of guilty and co-operation with police.

Judge Gregory Koppenol said Seaman's offending was premeditated and protracted as it occurred over a number of months.

"You were driven by your own sexual urges and enjoyed the sense of control," Judge Koppenol said.

"You thought the girls admired you ... (there was) a power imbalance.

"You targeted girls you knew were under age ... it satisfies me your interaction was designed specifically for sexual intercourse."

The court was told Seaman had had a good upbringing and was heavily involved in athletics.